Foot binding for water skis and the like



Jan. 5, 1954 w. o. CLINEDINST 2,664,578

FOOT BINDING FOR WATER SKIS AND THE LIKE Filed March 28, 1952 [mem: Mam/14 0. (MVM/N57,

lPatented Jan. 5, i954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT BINDING FOR WATER SKIS AND THE LIKE William O. Clinedinst, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application March 28, 1952, Serial No. 279,185

; 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-21) vThis invention relates to an improved foot binding particularly adapted for use on Water skis and more particularlyto a foot binding which will accommodate a wide range of foot length and width sizes.

Water ski foot bindings must be designed so that the users feet can readily be inserted and Withdrawn therefrom but which at the same time will securely hold the skis to the wearers feet during use. Moreover, since a given pair of water skis are frequentlyused by a large number of people, it is desirable that `the bindings will accommodate feet varying in width as well as length without adjustment thereof and also be adjustable if necessary to adapt the bindings to foot sizes of exceptional width or length or both. It is also desirable that the foot binding does not collect or hold sand or dirt.

It is accordingly an object of vthis invention to provide a foot binding which will'accommodate a wide range of foot sizes without adjustment but which is adjustable to permit the binding to fit feet of exceptional length or width.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a foot binding which is simple in design but at the same time readily adjustable.

It is another object of this invention to pro'- vide a foot binding that does not collect or hold sand or dirt.

It is still another object of this invention to accomplish the foregoing objects in a foot binding which holds securely during use but which permits ready insertion or removal of a foot.

The foregoing and further objects will be apparent from the following specification when read in conjunction with the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top view of a water ski 'embodying the improved foot binding of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the water ski and foot binding; l

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the foot binding;

Figure 6' is a plan of the counter;

Figure 7 is a plan of the vamp; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modification of the fastening means.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 indicates a body member such as the mid-portion of water ski or the like carrying the improved foot binding of my invention. The binding comprises a vamp 4 formed` of flexible, elastic, rubber-like material and ,aY counter 6 formed of flexible but relatively inelastic material such as rubber reenforced with inner fabric laminations'. Both the vamp and the counter Vmay conveniently be cut from fiat or sheet-like material.

The counter 6 is essentially an arcuate strap having end tab portions I0. The inside portion I2 of the blank which forms the bottom thereof in use may for the sake of comfort likewise be arcuate 4with the arc oppositely disposed relative the upper side, making the counter somewhat lanceolate in outline except for the extended tabs I0.

The vamp 4 comprises a somewhat ovaloid body portion I3 with tabs I4 extending outwardly and slightly diagonally forwardly toward the front or toe portion I 6 thereof.

Disposed on the body or ski member 2 at substantially its mid-portion adjacent thev edges thereof are longitudinally disposed parallel side frame members or slats 20. In a preferred embodiment these slats are each secured to the ski by three spaced bolts 22 and wing nuts 24. However, other type fasteners could of course be used such as a quick release fastener 3U of the type shown in Figure 8. In case of use of such a clamp, or other fastener only one need be used either at one end or at the intermediate position with studs 32 extending from the ski into holes 34 in the slats or vice versa at the opposite or both ends of the slat.

In assembling the binding the tabs -IIl and I4 are disposed between slats and the ski proper and intermediate the bolts 22. That is the vamp tabs I4 are disposed intermediate the forward and the center bolts and the counter tabs between the center bolts and the rearward bolts. The tabs of the vamp and counter are somewhat longer than the width of the slats.

With this arrangement, it is apparent that the binding can be adjusted to provide variations in the width and length of foot sizes accommodated. Thus by moving the tabs towards or away from the center bolt, variations in length can be accommodated, whereas by adjusting the tabs outwardly or inwardly of the binding, variations in width can be accommodated. Moreover, with this arrangement with the relatively inelastic counter and the elastic vamp with the toe portion thereof not directly attached to the ski a large variety of foot sizes can be accommodated with the tabs set at an intermediate position both regarding width and length. The reason for this is that the elastic vamp develops a fair pressure throughout a considerable amount of stretch across the instep of a wearer to hold the foot down on the ski and the heel back against the counter.

The feature that neither the bottom of the counter nor the toe portion of the vamp is directly attached to the ski provides an open passage for Water through the binding so that sand or dirt cannot be trapped or collect in the binding.

While I have shown and described certain specic embodiments of my inventionl it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised Within the scope of my invention, as defined inl the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. In combination with a water ski,A afoot binding comprising an elastic-flexible vamp member, a non-elastic ilexible counter member, each of said members having an outwardly extending tab on both side edges thereof, and a pair of parallelV longitudinallyY extending vslat members secured to said water ski, said tabs being disposed between said slats and said ski to. secure the same thereto, said slats being releasably Secured to the ski to permit movement of said tabs to permit length and width adjustment of said foot binding.

2; A water ski binding comprising longitudinally extending side slat members, a iiexible vamp member and a counter member, said vamp having portions extending under said slat members and held in position solely by clamping pressure of the slat members, said vamp being laterally slidable under said slat members to adjust the vamp for Variations in foot widths, and means for releasably securing said slats to a ski to permit'adjustment of said vamp and to apply the clamping pressure thereto.

3. A Water ski binding comprising a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending side slat 4 members, a flexible vamp member and a counter member, both of said vamp and counter members, having portions extending under said slats, said vamp being laterally slidable under said slats to adjust the vamp for variations in foot widths, said counter member being slidable under said slats lengthwise of said slats to adjust the binding for variations in foot lengths to be accommodated thereby, said vamp and counter members being held in adjusted position by the slat members and means for releasably securing said slats to a ski to permit adjustment of said vamp and counter members and to apply clamping pressure thereto.

4. A water ski binding comprising a pair of spaced apart, longitudinally extending side slat -members, a exible. vamp member and a exible counter member, both of said vamp and counter l'members having portions extending under said WILLIAM O. CLlNEDINST.

References Cited in the le. of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,165,547 Hill July ll, 1939 2,327,783 Hains Aug. 24, 1943 2,540,576 Goodhue et al. Feb. 6, 1951 

